Cote d’Ivoire

Overview

Cote d’Ivoire Overview

The Peacebuilding Fund has been active in Cote d’Ivoire since 2008, supporting the peace process through different phases including: pre-DDR work after the initial peace agreements to minimize risks of combatants diminishing momentum for peace; restoration of state authority after the 2010 elections to accelerate recovery from the war and electoral crisis; and in 2014 providing a three-year $12 million grant focusing on the pre- and post- 2015 election period. More specifically, this last grant aims to strengthen confidence, peaceful coexistence and security during the electoral period, including fostering women’s participation in the electoral process; and strengthening prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts through capacity building of state institutions.

Overall, since the Secretary-General declared Côte d’Ivoire eligible to receive support from the Peacebuilding Fund in June 2008, PBF has invested a total amount of $33.5 million to help create the conditions for sustainable peace in the country. An independent evaluation was conducted in 2014, which informed the development of the second Peacebuilding Priority Plan.

Period and total funding in US$ of PBF support:Overall investment since 2008: $ 33.5 million

This projects aims at supporting activities conducive to peaceful and democratic elections including : 1) strengthening trust between the SDF and the population; 2) support the implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission ; 3)support dialogue and trust amongst political parties, youth and women

This project aims at strengthening local mechanisms for peaceful resolution of local conflicts and in particular land conflicts through social cohesion and trust building between the population and the local authorities

The independent evaluation of the first Priority Plan, conducted in July 2014, pointed to overall positive peacebuilding results and elaborated recommendations for the second Peacebuilding Priority Plan. The evaluation highlighted that the Fund filled critical gaps and catalyzed additional funds from key donors. State authority was restored in the West and Abidjan allowing for: improved security of the population and the provision of identity documentation to 401,958 adults and children. As a result, the status and citizenship rights of more than 180,000 individuals has been formally recognised and better respected by the state, including improved access to key services. The first phase strongly contributed to durable solutions of the repatriated population, birth registrations and provided improved mediation over land conflicts that translated into increased trust between the population and state services. On reconciliation, the Fund’s support was crucial to bring the work of the Commission of Truth and Reconciliation closer to the population, while income generation activities reduced the spread of conflict. Moreover, the Priority Plan contributed to enhanced UN coherence.

The second Priority Plan amounting to $12 million will run through 2016, and is already yielding some positive results in terms of supporting the SRSG’s good offices in fostering dialogue and reducing tensions in the lead-up to the elections. In particular, the $5 million project on Strengthening peaceful co-existence and security in the electoral period, is currently supporting workshops and dialogue activities within between ONUCI and key stakeholders, including the Electoral Independent Commission (CEI), political parties, youth and women which are having a positive effect in reducing tensions. The project is also working on the establishment of a Women’s Situation Room, based on the positive experience of the Case de Veille in Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. Moreover, training and awareness raising activities on “crowd management” to the Security and Defence forces have so far contributed to containing outbreak of violence during the electoral campaign.

Beyond the elections the Priority Plan aims at consolidating the peacebuilding gains in the West, Center-West, Center and North East both reinforcing the state capacity to deliver serviced and fostering social cohesion, economic empowerment and dialogue amongst the communities.